Archive for Arisaka

Sweet early Type 99 Infantry rifle. This one was manufactured in the Nagoya Arsenal and dates from the 3rd Series, perhaps 1942. Everything matches, just no dust cover. Andrew claims this is a downgrade from this one here. Andrew is also a wanker sometimes.

Difficult to find in good condition as Japanese leather didn’t last and the environment in which they were used wasn’t healthy for leather. This is the front ammunition pouch for Arisaka 6.5 and 7.7 ammunition as used in the Type 38 and Type 99 infantry rifles. This one came to me still with a cardboard liner and 6×6.5mm stripper clips.

Here is a tidy, later model Type 30 bayonet. Intended for fitting to either the Type 99 series of rifles or the Type 38, this one does not have the curled guard seen on the earlier examples like this one here. The stamp on the ricasso indicates that it was made by Toyada Jidou Shoki (Toyada Automatic Loomworks), now known as Toyota.

Often missing, and hard to find when you want one. This is a numbered dust cover for the Arisaka Type 38 rifle. These were supplied with early series Type-38’s but deleted later on, although you will see the receivers still machined for them right to the end of the war.

This is my second Type 99 rifle. It’s a Nagoya late series 5, which puts it late 43 to late 44. The rifle is a bolt and receiver serial match but the stock is a mismatch, although correct for the series. This rifle was produced when the Japanese had started to simplify the design, resulting in the elimination of the monopod and anti-aircraft sights. The rear band still has the mount holes for the monopod although one has never been fitted. The main reason I bought this rifle was because it has the late type canvas sling, which is terrifically hard to get hold of.

I have a couple of Jap Type 30 bayonets, one here and a last ditch one here. Japanese leather is rubbish so it doesn’t tend to survive. Neither of the bayonets I have had a frog so when this one showed up I thought why not?

The latest rifle in the box, a beautiful Type 99 infantry rifle in as found condition. This rifle was intended to replace the smaller caliber Type-38 found here. The 7.7mm round was found to be more effective at dropping the enemy and less likely to be deflected by light cover. This example comes with its original monopod and anti-aircraft sights as well as an intact Chrysanthemum. Brilliant! Ammunition for this can be seen here. The rifle was manufactured at the Nagoya Arsenal in mid to late 1943. It is a 4th series example and was one of the last to have the monopod fitted.

Japanese soldier using the Type-99 during the occupation of Indochina, 1940